Tough break for Busse

Published 11:40 pm, Monday, August 31, 2009

Howie Busse suffered a tough break this week.

To be more specific, Busse broke the middle finger of his right hand playing softball on Thursday.

"I didn't want to play because I've been practicing for this tournament," said Busse, who won the Danbury Amateur Golf Championship in 2006. "It means a lot of me every year, but they needed me to play."

Busse made one concession for safety's sake. Normally a third baseman, Busse moved to left-center field to avoid any hot smashes at the hot corner.

"I went to the outfield instead of the infield so I wouldn't break my finger," he said, "and I end up breaking my finger anyway."

A towering fly ball clipped his middle fingertip on his throwing hand when he moved too quickly trying to get the ball out his glove as a runner tagged up. That left Busse with nine fingers to swing the golf club on Saturday.

"It was hard to control the club," said Busse. "And when I was in the rough I had a tough time because as soon as I made contact with anything the vibration would go through my finger and it basically hurt like hell every time I made contact.

"I worked all year to play in this. I wasn't not going to play in it."

Busse ended up shooting an 8-over 80, about eight strokes off what he was expecting to card.

"I hope to do better tomorrow," Busse said. "I think I will."

SQUEEGEE WONDERS: Despite absorbing more than an inch and a half of rain from overnight thunderstorms that left most of the greens still under water Saturday morning, the course was in excellent condition. The lone concession made to the elements was an hour delay to the first tee time as Richter Park course superintendent Ron Dorsch had fairways and greens squeegeed dry.

David Cagianello, the 2007 runner-up, was impressed at how well Richter has stood up to recent downpours.

"For the most part it drained pretty well," said Cagianello, who is tied for third place after shooting a 3-over 75. "It was a little wet on 15, but that's typical."

Meanwhile, Dorsch expects the course to bare its fangs Sunday, when the tees won't be in the front positions.

"Tomorrow it'll be all the way back," Dorsch said. "It'll be a much tougher test."

Earlier in the week Dorsch thought a two-round total of 143 would be good enough to win the tournament.

"But now I think it'll be 148," he said. "It won't be a walk in the park tomorrow."

YOUNGEST PLAYER: Danbury High incoming sophomore Rima Antous is the youngest player in the field. Though she shot a birdie-less round of 98, Antous was proud of her status as youngest.

"I feel good about it because it's an honor to be playing at 14 years old in this tournament," she said. "I didn't play as well as I knew I could play. I just did the best I could for today.

INCREASE: The total of 158 players in the field topped last year's total by 20.